GEOG 2200 Exam4

Why is agriculture important?

All humans depend on agriculture for survival; it is the most important economic activity globally.

What percentage of the working population is employed in agriculture?

Between 2% and 40% (declining fast).

What main variable determines the type of agriculture possible in a region?

Climate.

What are the three fundamental variables in farming systems?

Land, labor, and capital.

What characterizes peasant agriculture?

Small-scale farmers who own their fields, rely on family labor, and produce for subsistence and market.

Define extensive agriculture.

Farming using low levels of labor and capital relative to land area, relying on natural soil fertility.

Define intensive agriculture.

Farming using high levels of labor and capital relative to land size, overcoming environmental constraints.

What is subsistence agriculture?

Food production mainly for consumption by the farming family and local community.

What is commercial agriculture?

Agriculture oriented toward the production of commodities for sale in the market.

What is slash-and-burn agriculture?

A land-rotation farming system that involves cutting and burning plots to clear ground and release nutrients.

What is paddy rice farming?

The cultivation of rice on small flooded fields enclosed by mud dikes, practiced in humid areas of Asia.

What are the dominant grain crops in cereal-root crop mixed farming?

Wheat, barley, sorghum, millet, oats, and maize.

What is plantation agriculture?

A system of monoculture for producing export crops requiring large amounts of land and capital.

What is market gardening?

A small-scale farming system producing a mixture of vegetables and fruits for local and regional markets.

What is truck farming?

A scaled-up version of market gardening with larger acreages and less crop diversity.

What is pastoralism?

A system of breeding and rearing domesticated herd animals by moving them over open pasturelands.

What is transhumance?

The seasonal movement of herders with livestock to find the best forage.

What are the environmental factors influencing agricultural practices?

Climate, water availability, slope, topography, and soil quality.

What is the role of intercropping in agriculture?

It allows stronger crops to shelter weaker ones, reducing crop loss and providing dietary variety.

What is the typical duration of soil fertility in slash-and-burn agriculture before it declines?

3 to 5 years.

What are common cash crops in cereal-root crop mixed farming?

Cotton, flax, hemp, coffee, and tobacco.

What regions are typically associated with extensive agriculture?

Colder, drier farming regions climatically unsuited to wet rice and other crops.

What is the historical origin of plantation agriculture?

It originated in the 1400s on Portuguese-owned sugarcane-producing islands off the coast of West Africa.

What is the relationship between grain farming and technology?

Grain farming relies on machinery, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically engineered seeds.

How does climate affect regional agricultural patterns?

Regional agricultural patterns tend to reflect regional climate patterns.

How is wealth measured in nomadic cultures?

Wealth is based on the size of livestock holdings rather than accumulation of property.

Why have some governments encouraged nomads to practice sedentary cultivation?

It allows for easier control by central governments.

What is livestock ranching?

The commercial raising of herd livestock on a large landholding.

When did livestock ranching emerge commercially?

During colonial times in the Americas.

What types of animals are primarily raised in livestock ranching?

Cattle and sheep.

Which four countries account for 62% of sheep ranching?

Australia, China, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

What is livestock fattening?

A commercial type of agriculture that produces fattened cattle and hogs for meat.

What system did farmers adopt for livestock fattening?

The feedlot system.

How do dairy products vary?

They vary by region, depending on proximity to markets.

What is urban agriculture?

The raising of food, including fruits, vegetables, meat, and milk, inside cities.

How significant is urban agriculture in developing countries?

It is especially common and can provide subsistence and commercial surplus.

What is aquaculture?

The cultivation of aquatic organisms under controlled conditions.

What is mariculture?

A branch of aquaculture that refers to the farming of saltwater species.

What are some impacts of commercial aquaculture?

It relies on large energy and chemical inputs, can concentrate toxins in fish, and may pollute natural ecosystems.

What does the Von Thunen Model explain?

The distribution and intensity of agriculture in relation to transportation costs to market.

What is domestication?

A multigenerational process where humans selectively breed and care for individuals from wild species.

What is the first step in plant domestication?

Perceiving that a certain plant is useful, leading to its protection and seed selection.

Where is the Fertile Crescent located and what crops originated there?

In the Middle East; it is the origin of wheat, barley, rye, oats, grapes, apples, and olives.

What crops originated in China and New Guinea?

Rice, bananas, and sugarcane.

What crops originated in Africa?

Peanuts, yams, and coffee.

What crops originated in Mesoamerica?

Maize, tomatoes, and beans.

What crop originated in the Andes?

Potato.

When did animal domestication occur in relation to crop planting?

Later in prehistory than the first planting of crops.

What is the exception to the timeline of animal domestication?

The dog, which was domesticated much earlier for companionship and hunting.

Where did the wild ancestors of major herd animals primarily live?

In a belt running from Syria and southeastern Turkey.

How long ago did the people of the Indus Valley civilization begin using oxen for plowing?

About 5000 years ago.

What major exchange redistributed crops globally?

The Colombian Exchange.

Which crops were introduced from North America to Eurasia and Africa?

Maize and potatoes.

What crops were brought from the Fertile Crescent to the Americas?

Wheat and grapes.

What was introduced to California by Spanish missionaries in the 18th century?

Olives, grapes, and date palms.

What agricultural revolution introduced high-yield hybrid crops?

The Green Revolution.

What was a significant outcome of the Green Revolution in India?

It doubled output between 1950 and 1970.

What are the biological cycles associated with agriculture?

They reflect the rhythms of nature, impacting labor demand for planting and harvesting.

What program brought contract workers from Mexico to California?

The Bracero Program.

What is the agro-industrial complex?

A global system encompassing all elements of food production and consumption.

What has simplified the global diet to a reliance on three grains?

Exploration, colonization, and globalization.

What types of crops are emphasized in the global food system?

A relatively small number of staple crops.

What is a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO)?

A facility that confines livestock at high densities.

What technological advancement has increased agricultural productivity?

Increasing mechanization and sophisticated machinery.

What is biotechnology in agriculture?

The recombination of DNA to produce new properties in organisms.

What percentage of U.S. soybeans and corn are genetically modified?

90%.

What is agribusiness?

Highly mechanized, large-scale farming usually under corporate ownership.

What is contract farming?

An arrangement where farmers receive inputs from agribusiness companies under specified conditions.

What is a significant risk for farmers in contract farming?

They bear all the risks in the event of crop failure.

What has been the trend in chicken consumption since the 1990s?

Per-capita consumption of chicken has continued to grow.

What percentage of U.S. chickens are grown under contract?

90%

What paradoxes are associated with food deprivation?

Overconsumption leading to health issues, chronic malnutrition in some areas, and the disappearance of famines.

How has food production changed over the past 50-60 years?

Food production has grown more rapidly than the world population.

What is the current status of food availability per capita compared to 1950?

More food is available today per capita than in 1950.

What are some factors contributing to food deprivation?

International political economics, government subsidies, insufficient food production in developing countries, and poor transportation infrastructure.

How can political instability affect food distribution?

It can disrupt food shipments and lead to corruption in food aid distribution.

What role does war play in food deprivation?

Hunger can be used as a weapon, and warfare can destroy crops, livestock, and infrastructure.

What are food fears associated with the globalized food system?

Increased risks of food contamination and foodborne illnesses.

What defines a foodborne outbreak?

When two or more people acquire the same illness from the same contaminated food or drink.

What are common contaminants in foodborne outbreaks?

Genetic strains and species of viruses and bacteria, such as Salmonella, Hepatitis A, and Norovirus.

What environmental impacts are associated with industrial agriculture?

Water control issues, land reclamation, drainage of wetlands, and risks of salinization.

What are the effects of agrichemicals on the environment?

Increased productivity but also negative impacts on wildlife and human health.

What is a significant concern regarding pesticide use?

95% of pesticide spray may not reach its intended target and can harm non-target species.

What happens when excess synthetic fertilizers enter aquatic systems?

They can trigger rapid plant growth, leading to algae blooms and 'dead zones' in water bodies.

How does agriculture contribute to climate change?

It accounts for 14% of anthropogenic CO2, 42% of methane, and 75% of nitrous oxide emissions.

What is the impact of clearing forests for agriculture?

It increases atmospheric CO2 and reduces the amount of CO2 removed from the atmosphere.

What are the characteristics of fragmented farms?

Landholdings are divided into many separate fields, often based on customary use.

What defines unit-block farms?

Property is contained in a single, contiguous piece of land, commonly found in settler colonies.

What are long-lot farms?

Farms consisting of long, narrow units stretching back from a road or water source.

What is the purpose of windbreaks in agriculture?

To slow wind and reduce soil erosion, particularly in arid regions.

How did the Dust Bowl influence agricultural practices?

It led to the common practice of using windbreaks to prevent soil erosion.

What is the significance of hedgerows in agriculture?

They serve as living fences and are important in the rural landscape of certain regions.

What is the main challenge for agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Fast demographic growth combined with lower levels of economic development.

What are the expected effects of climate change on agriculture?

Increased extreme weather events and shifting regional climates affecting crop yields.

What is a 'dead zone' in aquatic environments?

An area with low oxygen levels due to excessive nutrient runoff, leading to the death of marine life.

What percentage of the global population lives in cities?

54%

How many people do cities grow by each week?

3 million people

Which regions account for approximately 75% of urbanization?

Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean

What is the urban population percentage in many countries in Africa and Asia?

40%

What is the definition of 'urban' based on country?

It varies; for example, Japan defines urban as >50,000 people, while the US defines it as >2,500.